Corn #Harvest15 Update

October 13, 2015

The state’s farmers continue to make progress on the 2015 corn harvest as the weather remains warm and dry.

According to USDA-NASS, 21% of the state’s corn crop (roughly 1 million acres) had been harvested as of Sunday, October 11th, which is 11% points behind the five-year average. 90% of the state’s corn crop was considered to be mature, 2% points behind of the five-year average.

Progress should proceed rapidly this week and the next as farmers wrap up soybean harvest and face a forecast that includes continued dry weather, but are now expected to be bringing in more bushels.

The October USDA-NASS crop production report included an increase in overall production by an estimated 41 million bushels from the previous month. USDA now predicts that South Dakota farmers will harvest their second largest crop on record (796 million bushels), with an estimated all-time record yield of 161 bushels per acre, up two from last month and up 13 from last year.

As corn harvest continues in your part of the country, don’t miss your opportunity to snap some photos for our 2nd annual #SDharvest15 photo contest for a chance to win hundreds in ethanol bucks. Just use the hashtag #SDharvest15 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to enter.